In March 2024, I embarked on a three-week journey across Europe, visiting friends and exploring England, Slovenia, Italy, and France. My English escapade led me to London, Wolverhampton, Oxford, and Brighton. Venturing further, I hopped on a cheap flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia, where I was enchanted by its undeniable charm, which lived up to all the praises I had heard.
From Ljubljana, for $20, a short bus ride took me across the border into Trieste, Italy. This coastal gem had captivated my imagination ever since I read Jan Morris’s captivating book Trieste: The Meaning of Nowhere‘ Its allure as a ‘mythical’ destination did not disappoint. Wrapping up my European adventure, I spent several days in Toulouse, France, where my sister and her husband call home. In addition to exploring the Pink City, we took a short day trip to the enchanting town of Auch.
Ljubljana: This is my first visit to Slovenia, and I spent three nights in Ljubljana, the City of Dragons. In 1991, after a 10-Day War of Independence, Slovenia was able to break away from the former Yugoslavia. Although there were some casualties and material damages, it was nothing like the brutal and prolonged wars in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later in Kosovo. Aside from a few bullet holes I spotted, there isn’t much evidence left in the picturesque Old Town with its cobblestone streets, beautiful bridges, and splendid churches.
I stayed at a charming boutique hotel, Allegro, right in the Old Town and only a few minutes’ walk to several major tourist sites. The 3-story building has, I think, twelve rooms but no elevator. Thankfully, I travel light and managed to lug my bags up several flights of stairs.
Ljubljana, like many lesser-visited European cities, is not home to any famous attractions. However, its compact Old Town, friendly people, delicious local cuisine, stunning architecture, and rich culture and history make me wish I was staying longer.
Additional photos from Ljubljana:
Auch is a charming town located approximately 80 km west of Toulouse, France. The town’s skyline is dominated by the towering St. Mary’s Cathedral, perched atop a small hill.
One of Auch’s notable landmarks is the Monumental Staircase, built in 1863 and comprising 370 steps. Halfway up the staircase stands a statue of D’Artagnan, the Captain of the King’s Musketeers during Louis XIV’s reign. While D’Artagnan is famous as one of the Three Musketeers, much of his life portrayed in the novel is fictionalized.
Similar to many smaller towns in Southern France, Auch boasts a relaxed rhythm characterized by its weekly farmers’ market, quaint cafes, and local bistros. However, the looming threat of “modernity”, with its mega-store, is ever-present, seemingly ready to encroach upon the town’s traditional charm at any moment.
Oxford: The University of Oxford is the oldest post-secondary institution in Britain, comprising 39 independent colleges. In 2019, Reuben College became the newest addition. As a mecca of higher education, Oxford has educated a long list of luminaries, from J.R.R. Tolkien to Oscar Wilde, from Stephen Hawking to Roger Penrose, and from Emma Watson to Hugh Grant.
I have visited Oxford several times, and its imposing and impressive architecture never disappoints. During my previous trips, I was tempted to join a tour to explore the colleges from within but never did due to various reasons. However, during this visit, I decided to join a walking tour (priced at approximately C$40 per person) and had the opportunity to visit Trinity College, the historic Bodleian Library, and a couple of sites that are not accessible to the public.
Photos do not do justice to the rich architectural beauty of the city and cannot capture the academic vibrancy of the university.